When Arsenal won 1-0 at St James’ Park on the opening day of the season the suggestion the two sides would have the same number of points after 25 games would have got you strange looks in Newcastle and north London alike. And yet through the departure of Unai Emery, the brief interim tenure of Freddie Ljungberg and now the arrival of Mikel Arteta, the Gunners have won just five more times in the league to languish in 10th, ahead of Steve Bruce’s surprisingly resilient side only on goal difference. Arteta has drawn five of his seven league games in charge and Arsenal have drawn 13 from 25 in total: after the extravagance of a winter break in Dubai you get the feeling the Emirates crowd will accept nothing less than all three points on Sunday. Paul Chronnell
Sunday 4.30pm Sky Sports Premier League
Venue Emirates Stadium
Last season Arsenal 2 Newcastle 0
Referee Lee Mason
This season G12 Y46 R1 4.00 cards/game
Odds H 4-9 A 7-1 D 7-2
ARSENAL
Subs from Martínez, Papastathopoulos, Ceballos, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Pépé, Nelson, Willock, Guendouzi, Nketiah
Doubtful Kolasinac (thigh), Nelson (thigh), Saka (knee)
Injured Marí (match fitness, 20 Feb), Soares (knee, 2 Mar), Tierney (shoulder, 7 Mar), Chambers (knee, Aug)
Suspended None
Discipline Y62 R3
Form LWDDDD
Leading scorer Aubameyang 14
NEWCASTLE
Subs from Darlow, Elliot, Schär, Lejeune, Yedlin, Ritchie, Atsu, Gayle, S Longstaff, M Longstaff, Muto, Saivet, Sterry
Doubtful Gayle (hamstring), Muto (hip)
Injured Shelvey (thigh, 22 Feb), Manquillo (thigh, 29 Feb), Carroll (groin, 3 Mar), Krafth (ankle, 7 Mar), Dummett (thigh, Aug), Willems (knee, Aug), Colback (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y38 R2
Form LLDWDD
Leading scorer Shelvey 5